CHAPTER 13
TROOPS TRANSPORTED BY AIR

Parachute troops are troops moved by air transport
and landed by means of parachutes. The principal tactical
unit for parachute troops is the battalion. It consists of two
or more combat companies and other units required by the
mission and operation.

Weapons and equipment of parachute troops include
the rifle or carbine, automatic pistol, submachine gun, light
machine gun, 60mm mortar, and hand grenade, together
with signal and demolition equipment. Parachute troops are
armed and equipped for the execution of a specific task.
Weapons and equipment not carried by the individual during
the descent are dropped in containers on the landing area
simultaneously with the parachutists.

Ordinarily, parachute troops may be considered as the
advance guard element of air landing troops or other military
or naval forces. They constitute a powerful surprise factor
and usually are employed in conjunction with air landing or
mechanized troops in the path of the main ground effort,
or close in rear of the enemy front line; otherwise they may
be quickly surrounded and destroyed.

Air landing troops are troops moved by powered aircraft
who disembark after the aircraft reaches the ground.
They are task forces organized as to personnel and equipment
and trained for the execution of particular missions. They
execute special missions in areas which are inaccessible, or
not immediately accessible to other friendly troops. Their
organization would include a headquarters, infantry, and
essential units of other arms in suitable proportion. In each
component the unity of tactical organization should be preserved
as far as practicable. Parachute troops are attached
to air landing troops for operations in hostile territory when
it is necessary to seize, hold, and protect landing areas for
air landing troops.

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Combined operation of parachute and air landing
troops are similar to the advance guard action of a large
command; to the execution of a reconnaissance in force; or
to a major raid against the enemy. Excluding the minor
operations of parachute troops on sabotage and special missions,
air landing operations are executed usually in conjunction
with other ground or naval operations.

Air superiority in the locality of the operation is a
fundamental requisite to successful air landing operations.
Except when employed in small numbers and on missions
requiring strict secrecy, air landing operations must be closely
supported by combat aviation prior to, during, and after
landing in hostile territory.

Except in extreme cases when used on sacrifice missions,
troops transported by air should not be employed
unless they can be supported quickly by other military or
naval forces, or unless they can be withdrawn after their
mission has been accomplished.

MISSIONS

Suitable missions for troops transported by air include:

Seizing and holding, or otherwise exploiting, important
tactical localities or installations, in conjunction with or
pending the arrival of other military or naval forces. Such
missions include seizure and clearance of landing fields,
beachheads, strong points, and ports; seizure of essential observation
or other critical terrain; severing hostile lines of
communication and supply; the destruction of bridges, locks,
public utility enterprises, and other designated demolitions;
seizure of river crossings, defiles, and other bottlenecks;
blocking a hostile counterattack; interrupting the movements
of hostile reserves; cooperating in the pursuit or breakthrough
by ground forces by operating against enemy reserves
and lines of communication, and blocking hostile
avenues of retreat; and preventing the enemy from destroying
essential installations, supplies, and matériel which might
be of use in our own subsequent operations.

Executing an envelopment from the air in conjunction
with an attack by ground forces.

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Execution of surprise attacks as a diversion or feint in
connection with other air landing or ground operations, or to
create confusion and disorder among the hostile military and
civilian personnel.

Execution of an attack against an isolated enemy position,
impossible or impracticable of attack by ground forces.

The missions of parachute and air landing troops are
facilitated under the following conditions: when the enemy
air force is inferior or has been defeated; when landing in
territory whose population may be expected to support the
parachute troops with food, information, and transport;
when landing in rear of a disorganized or defeated enemy;
and when suitable terrain and good weather exist.

PLANNING OPERATIONS

In planning air landing operations, factors to be
considered include the mission of the force; strength, disposition,
and capabilities of the enemy to interfere with the
operation; composition of own force; support to be furnished
by combat aviation, and ground or naval forces; the effect
of terrain; weather conditions; number, types, and capacities
of transport planes available; time required for the movement;
measures for coordinating the action of the combined
forces engaged in the operation; movement of the command
to the airdrome from which the operation is launched; troop
and cargo loadings; sequence of deplaning; and supply and
evacuation plan.

In planning the organization of a force for the execution
of an assigned mission careful consideration must be
given to the relative importance of the different arms. Certain
missions require a relatively high percentage of infantry
and artillery whereas other missions may require a preponderance
of parachute troops, engineers and other special troops.

Excluding the use of parachute troops in small numbers
for sabotage or special missions any plan for operations in
hostile rear areas should provide for the following: local air
superiority; close support by combat aviation en route, during,
and after landing; the allotment of parachute troops in sufficient
strength to assure the seizure of necessary landing
areas and protection of the transport planes while landing;

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an adequate infantry component. When facing a strong and
unshaken enemy the landing must be quickly supported by advancing
mechanized or other highly mobile ground units.

Plans must be based on accurate and detailed information.
Every effort must be made to obtain detailed information
of enemy activities in the combat area, including
location, strength, armament, and capability of the hostile
force to interfere with the operation; location of antiaircraft
batteries and other defensive installations; composition and
type of organized defenses of airdromes, landing fields, and
other military or civil installations; morale of the civil population
and its effectiveness as part of the defense force; location
and type of obstacles used to obstruct possible landing
areas; and the location of highly mobile hostile forces.

A comprehensive knowledge of the terrain is essential
to the formulation of a detailed tactical plan for the operation.
By studying maps and aerial photographs and by personal
aerial reconnaissances of the combat area, landing and alternate
landing sites are selected; towns, roads, and other key
points definitely located; and the advantages and disadvantages
of the terrain for the proposed operation carefully
weighed.

The weather is an important factor in an air landing
operation and must be studied carefully during the planning
phase. Heavy fog, low clouds, and icing conditions have an
adverse effect on flying. In addition, high winds interfere
with accurate and safe landings of parachute troops. Therefore,
a long range weather forecast should be studied and
the operation scheduled, if practicable, so as to take advantage
of favorable weather conditions.

The tactical plan for parachute troops should include
provision for such matters as time of landing; support
to be furnished by combat aviation; specific missions for the
seizure and protection of the landing area including road
blocking missions and control of local signal communications;
antiaircraft and antitank defensive measure; seizure of transportation;
contact with friendly espionage agencies; removal
of obstacles from landing area; disposition of civilians; and
plan for use of parachute troops when reinforced or relieved
by air landing troops.

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The tactical plan for air landing troops after landing
in the hostile area should include provision for such matters
as: time of landing; support to be furnished by combat
aviation; missions for leading wave and subsequent waves;
reinforcement of parachute troops; assembly positions; special
signal communication instructions; location of command
post; and similar matters. (For details of an air movement
table, see FM 101ñ10.)

When an air landing force is operating in conjunction
with ground forces and combat aviation, the air landing
plan must be coordinated with the ground and air force
plans. This coordination is best effected by personal conferences
between commanders and staffs concerned. Each
commander should have full knowledge of the general plan
of operations; the forces involved; the missions of the ground
force, the air force and the air landing force; objective of each
force; time of attack and scheme of maneuver of ground
forces; combat aviation support missions; signal communication
arrangements between the forces; and other information
necessary to assure coordinated action by the combined
forces.

All preparations for an operation should be completed
well in advance of the operation and, within the limits
imposed by the necessity for secrecy, subordinate commanders
should be given timely information of the details of the plan
in order that units will have sufficient time to adjust equipment
requirements, and complete special training.

As far as practicable, training and rehearsal for the operation
should be conducted on terrain similar to that for which
the actual operation is planned. This includes joint training
by the combined arms detailed to participate in the operation.

The size and composition of the force assigned to a
landing field is determined largely by the location and facilities
of the field, the mission, the enemy situation, and the
organization for combat. Each force is organized and
equipped to execute a specific mission.

CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS

The combined operations of parachute and air landing
troops are characterized primarily by the speed and

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surprise with which these troops can execute an attack in hostile
rear areas, or to intervene at critical areas in the theater
of war.

It is not likely that higher commanders can exercise
direction or control of air landing operations until after initial
objectives have been seized or initial tasks executed. Each
unit must be self-sustaining during the initial phase of combat.
No support, except from combat aviation, can be expected
before the landing of additional troops or until contact
is made with other ground forces.

The number of hostile landing areas that are required
for an air landing operation depends on the size and composition
of the force, the mission, hostile defensive dispositions,
and similar factors. Ordinarily, several landing fields are
necessary for major operations. The use of several landing
areas serves to deceive the enemy in that it causes him to
disperse his defensive forces over a wide area, and conceals
the place of landing of the bulk of the command.

Preliminary air attack directed against the prospective
landing areas will ordinarily be required preceding the
landing, to destroy or disorganize local defenses.

The time of starting bombing missions in support of
an air landing operation depends largely on the mission of
the force, the enemy air situation, defensive ground organization,
and other factors which must be considered for each
operation.

At an appropriate time preceding the launching of the air
transport movement, bombardment aviation attacks enemy
airdromes, planes on the ground, and other installations in
the combat area. This is followed closely by bombing and
machine-gun attacks against the local hostile defense force
and against the defenses surrounding the landing areas to
include hostile artillery within range of the landing area.
During the landing, bombing operations seek to destroy enemy
ground forces and defensive works, with particular attention
to the attack of any motorized or mechanized units moving
to the defense of the landing area. After the landing is effected,
bombardment aviation furnishes close support for
the ground operation in accordance with previously arranged
plans or on call.

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The landing of parachute troops should be timed to
follow closely the bombardment operations against the defenses
of the landing areas. Ordinarily, these troops are
dropped around the perimeters of previously selected landing
areas. Small fighting groups or units proceed to the execution
of their initial tasks, which usually are the seizure and
clearing of landing fields and the neutralization of local defenses.
Other suitable missions for these troops include
capture of important terrain features or buildings; road blocking;
seizure of local signal communications; contact with
friendly civilians and agents; covering the operations of other
parachute troops; executing specified demolitions; and reconnaissance
toward designated localities.

Air landing troops land shortly after the parachute
troops in accordance with a time schedule coordinated with
combat aviation and parachute troop operations or on a prearranged
signal from the parachute troops on the ground.
Thereafter, transport planes are landed on a time schedule
which may be modified to conform to actual conditions on the
ground.

Units operating from the several landing fields execute their
assignments in accordance with a previously prepared plan,
which should be flexible enough to allow commanders wide
latitude in the conduct of the operation.

Signal equipment of parachute troops is limited to
light and comparatively simple apparatus. Units down to
and including the squad may be equipped with small, two-way
radio sets, panels, and pyrotechnics. Signal equipment
may also be procured or improvised locally.

Air landing troops modify their means and methods of
signal communication to suit each local situation. On some
missions long range radio sets and special pyrotechnic equipment
may be required. Particular care should be taken to
assure signal communication with supporting combat aviation
by providing sufficient equipment for at least two different
means.

COUNTERMEASURES

All unit commanders are responsible for the defense
of their areas against parachute and air landing troops.
Measures are taken to insure timely warning of the approach

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of such troops by the establishment of air warning sentries
or patrols and by cooperation with established military or
civilian air warning services.

All troops stationed in an area cooperate in the defense
against parachute and air landing troops by firing
on descending parachutists and enemy aircraft within range.
Hostile elements that land are attacked before they can
effect a reorganization on the ground.

Troops engaged in tactical operations should be free
of the responsibility of defending rear areas.

Special defense measures may be required. These include
provision for the local defense of vital localities, a highly
mobile reserve and an information and warning system carefully
integrated with an adequate signal communication
system.

Local defense involves dispersion; the detail of first-line
troops for the purpose should be avoided. Troops capable
of only limited service may be employed for the defense of
industrial areas. Civilian law enforcement agencies, State
guards, patriotic organizations, and industrial employees also
may be trained in local defense.

The function of the mobile reserve is the attack and
destruction of any enemy troops attempting or effecting a
landing. The reserve should consist of thoroughly trained
troops. It should be highly mobile. Speed is essential. It
is desirable that its counterattack be delivered before the
enemy has completely organized his forces after landing.

The composition of the reserve should be in accordance
with its mission. The use of mechanized troops supported
by light cannon is indicated both for mobility and because
the enemy will necessarily be weak in these elements, unprotected
by entrenchments and obstacles and vulnerable to their
assault. Any additional troops should be motorized.

The position of the reserve is influenced by the location
oi the various areas it is to protect and the road net.

Thorough coordination is secured with the aircraft
warning service and any other air defense measures organized
in the area.